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Statesville protesters take to streets

Regan Hill

Around 100 people gathered to protest the actions of the United States government Saturday in front of the Statesville Civic Center.

By Bethany Fuller | Statesville R&L

Published: July 5, 2009

Troutman resident Dot Gilley never felt passionately enough about anything to attend a rally before Saturday.

But her views about the special projects that she and other taxpayers fund inspired her to attend Statesville's second TEA (Taxed Enough Already) Party.

"I feel strongly that we are losing our freedoms," she said. "If they feel as I feel, hopefully this will have an impact."

Around 100 people gathered on the four corners surrounding the Center Street and Front Street intersection to voice their concerns about how the government is spending taxpayers' money and not listening to their wishes.

"It's appropriate for us to go and defend our freedoms as opposed to sitting around and drinking beer," said Brian Peek, one of the organizers with We are Change NC. "People need to realize who is in charge of the government.

"It's not the people."

Fellow organizer Farren Shoaf, the host of "The Real News Radio Show with Farren" on WSIC 1400 AM, said the government no longer represents the people. There is a one-party system in place, he said, adding that it doesn't matter who is elected if they don't listen to the people the represent.

"They don't have sense," Statesville resident Molly Black said about the state and federal government.
While it is true that it takes a lot of money to fund government projects, Black said it has gotten out of control.

Her friend Linda Jolly, also of Statesville, said protests like this one are the way the average citizen is going to be heard.

The two talked about how they called members of Congress that weren't directly representing them about different issues. In some cases, they were hung up on or told that the person in question didn't represent them.

"They do represent me because anything they pass affects me," Black said. "Iredell County is fortunate. We have Virginia Foxx and Patrick McHenry and they listen to us."

Foxx and McHenry are Republicans. Democrats control the U.S. House and Senate.

Debbie Evans, a former Chicago resident, said it wasn't about a single party and what they have or have not done.

"My son is in the military, and I don't want him to be fighting for a lost cause," she said. "They are regulating us. All we have is a vote and a voice. That's all we have left."